Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)

American, Lived/Active: Missouri and Massachusetts.
The Hymn Singer. Signed (l.r.) in pencil: Thomas H. Benton, #45 of 500.
Published by Twayne Publishers, New York, 1950. Lithograph. 20” x 16” (sheet), 21 ¼” x 17 ¼” (with frame).
Excellent condition, recently cleaned and framed.
Provenance: Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Todd Piacenza, Sanford, North Carolina.
The Hymn Singer is a portrait of Burl Ives who was a musician, singer and actor. Catalogue raisonné author, Creekmore Fath, notes an edition of 500 for this particular print but suggests the edition may be smaller.
Thomas Hart Benton was known as the leader of the Regionalist School and created a style of painting that addressed subject mater specific to America and to the region of Missouri. He was masterful at combining elements of Modernism and Realism.